Max Bygraves

Max Bygraves OBE
Bygraves in 1976
Born	Walter William Bygraves (1922-10-16)16 October 1922 Rotherhithe,London, England
Died	31 August 2012(2012-08-31)(aged 89) Hope Island, Queensland,Australia
Occupations	Comedian singer actor variety performer
Years active	1943–2006
Spouse	Gladys "Blossom" Murray ​ ​ (m.1942; died 2011)​
Children	6

Walter William "Max" BygravesOBE(16 October 1922 – 31 August 2012) was an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs. He made twentyRoyal Variety Performanceappearances and presented numerous programmes, includingFamily Fortunesbetween 1983 and 1985. His catchphrase "I wanna tell you a story" became an integral part of his act, although it had originated with comedianMike Yarwoodimpersonating Bygraves.

Early life

Bygraves was born to Henry and Lillian (néeMcDonnell) Bygraves (who wed in 1919) inRotherhithein London,where he grew up in a two-room council flat in Park Buildings, Paradise Streetwith his five siblings, his parents and a grandparent.His father was a professional flyweightboxer,known as Battling Tom Smith, and a casual dockworker.Brought up Catholic, he attended St Joseph's School, Paradise Street,Rotherhithe,and sang with his school choir atWestminster Cathedral.

He left school at 14, working at the Savoy Hotel in London as a pageboy, but was sacked for being too tall. He later put some of his success as a variety performer down to his lanky physique. He was 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall, but weighed only 13 stone (83 kg) in adult life. He then became a messenger for W S Crawfords, an advertising agency at 233 High Holborn before serving as a fitter in theRoyal Air Forcein theSecond World Warand working as a carpenter.He changed his name to Max Bygraves in honour of comedianMax Miller.

Career

After the end of the war, Bygraves worked on building sites, while entertaining in pubs in the evenings. An early variety stage appearance in January 1945 was at the Grand, Clapham with a review stating "A new impressionist. Max Bygraves, is also a lad to be watched. He has a little to learn in the art of showmanship, but not much, but there is no denying the brilliance of his impersonations."

In August 1946, he toured in avariety showwithFrankie Howerd,who in turn introduced him toEric Sykes,and they began writing routines together. With Sykes, he also developed the radio showEducating Archie,starringventriloquistPeter Broughand his dummyArchie Andrews,and featuring Bygraves in the role of Archie's teacher. The idea for the programme came from record producerWally Ridley,who produced Bygraves' records during the 1950s.

In July 1950, he made his first appearance at theLondon PalladiumsupportingAbbott and Costello,and in 1951 he supportedJudy Garlandin her appearance there.Arising from this, she invited him to perform at thePalaceinNew Yorkin October 1951.

Bygraves became a successful recording artist with seven top ten hits on theUK Singles Chartbetween 1952 and 1960.Many werenovelty songs.One of his most popular recordings, "You Need Hands" in 1958, was written by Bygraves under the pseudonym Roy Irwin (or Erwin), a name picked at random from a telephone directory. He also wrote its follow-up, "Gotta Have Rain".His producer Wally Ridley said of Bygraves:

Max's great talent was that he could punch lines, which was absolutely great for us. We'd give him songs with very short lines and he'd punch them out marvellously. Give him a long line and he would stumble over it, although I just flipped when I was given "Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea". I thought, "Fabulous, fabulous, this is a major hit for us." I took it to Max and his wife, Blossom, said, "That's no good, what does it mean?"... The song was absolutely perfect for Max and its whole secret was "What the hell does it mean?"

He also occasionally worked as an actor, appearing in British films includingBless 'Em All(1948) andTom Brown's Schooldays(1951). Bygraves appeared as himself in the 1954 British film musicalHarmony Lanedirected by Lewis Gilbert, and 'What Now, Davros!', with Helen Ball. He portrayed the title character in the 1956 filmCharley Moonand starred in the 1961 dramaSpare the Rod.In 1959, Bygraves bought the past and future rights to theLionel BartmusicalOliver!for £350 at a time when Bart was experiencing severe financial difficulties. Bygraves later sold them for £250,000.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Bygraves appeared as a guest on several television variety programmes, both in the UK and United States. These includedEd Sullivan,Jack BennyandJackie Gleason,in America. He was the subject ofThis Is Your Lifein 1961 when he was surprised byEamonn Andrewswhile rehearsing his new show,Do Re Miat London'sPrince of Wales Theatre.He appeared in several TV series including the sitcomRoamin' Holidayand the variety showsMaxandMax Bygraves at the Royalty.From 1983 to 1985, Bygraves hostedFamily Fortunes,taking over from his friend and fellow comedianBob Monkhouse.He would later be succeeded as host in 1987 byLes Dennis.

From 1972, Bygraves recorded a series of albums,Sing Along With Max(laterSingalongamax), in which he sang medleys of familiar songs aimed at an older audience. The albums, forPye Records,sold millions of copies and led to spinoff shows and more recordings.In 1977, UK publishing houseW. H. Allenpublished Bygraves' comic novelThe Milkman's on His Way.

Bygraves' catchphrase was said to be: "I wanna tell you a story". It was actuallyMike Yarwoodwho made up that phrase,from Bygraves' "I want to tell you a joke", though Bygraves adopted Yarwood's version as the title of his own memoirs.Another well-known phrase of his was "That's a good idea, son!".

Honours

In 1982, Bygraves was made an Officer of theOrder of the British Empire(OBE).

Personal life

Bygraves marriedWAAFsergeant Gladys "Blossom" Murray in 1942. The couple had three children.Bygraves also had three other children from extramarital affairs.

On 9 August 1974, Bygraves became trapped on a cliff-face near his house inWestbourne,Bournemouth, while attempting to retrieve a kite flown by his grandson Michael which had become stuck beneath the edge of the cliff. Bygraves suffered friction burns on his hands and was in shock when police and firefighters helped him to safety.In 1999, Bygraves underwent treatment for an ear disorder, having cancelled a number of performances on his doctor's advice.

He and Blossom Bygraves moved from Bournemouth toQueensland,Australia, in 2008. She died there in 2011 at the age of 88.

Death

Bygraves was diagnosed withAlzheimer's diseasein 2010, and he died from complications of this illness at his daughter's home inHope Island, Queensland,Australia on the evening of 31 August 2012.

Television

• Whack-O!(1960)
• The Royal Variety Performance(1961; 1963 etc.)
• The Jack Benny Program(1963, season 13, episode 13)
• It's Sad About Eddie(1964)
• Max Bygraves meets The Black and White Minstrels (1965, 1 episode)
• MaxThames Television (1968–72 includingThe Max Bygraves Hour1970 andThe Max Bygraves Show1972)
• Max at the Royalty(1972)
• SingalongaMax(1973)
• MaxATV (1974)
• Max Bygraves Says "I Wanna Tell You a Story"(1975–77)
• Max's Holiday Hour(1977)
• Lingalongamax(1978–80 including hour long specialFrom Max with Love1979)
• MaxThames Television (1981)
• Max Rolls On(1982)
• Max Bygraves – Side by Side(1982)
• Family Fortunes(1983–85, 42 episodes)
• The Mind of David Berglas(1986)
• Call Up the Stars(1995)
• Against the Odds RAF Documentary(2001)

Partial filmography

• Bless 'Em All(1948)
• The Nitwits on Parade(1949)
• Skimpy in the Navy(1949)
• Tom Brown's Schooldays(1951)
• Charley Moon(1956)
• A Cry from the Streets(1958)
• Bobbikins(1959)
• Spare the Rod(1961)
• The Alf Garnett Saga(1972)
• The Jigsaw Man(1983) Uncredited cameo appearance (policeman)

Discography

Chart singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions
		UK
1952	"Cowpuncher's Cantata"	6
1954	"Heart of My Heart"	7
	"Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea"	7
1955	"Mr Sandman"	16
	"Meet Me on the Corner"	2
1956	"Ballad of Davy Crockett"	20
	"Out of Town"	18
1957	"Heart"	16
1958	"You Need Hands" / "Tulips from Amsterdam"	3
	"Little Train" / "Gotta Have Rain"	28
1959	"My Ukulele"	19
	"Jingle Bell Rock"	7
1960	"Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be"	5
	"Consider Yourself"	50
1961	"Bells of Avignon"	36
1969	"You're My Everything"	34
1973	"Deck of Cards"	13
1989	"White Christmas"	71

Albums

• Show Stoppers(1962)
• Sing Along with Max(1972) No. 4
• Sing Along with Max Vol. 2(1972) No. 11
• Singalongamax Vol. 3(1973) No. 5
• Singalongamax Vol. 4(1973) No. 7
• Singalongapartysong(1973) No. 15
• You Make Me Feel Like Singing a Song(1974) No. 39
• Singalongaxmas(1974) No. 21
• 100 Golden Greats(1976) No. 3
• Lingalongamax(1978) No. 39
• Discolongamax(1979) No. 47
• The Song and Dance Men(1978) No. 67
• Singalongawaryears(1989) No. 5
• Singalongawaryears Volume 2(1989) No. 33

External links

• Max BygravesatIMDb
• Portraits of Max Bygravesat theNational Portrait Gallery, London
• Max Bygravesdiscography atDiscogs